 | Erato, number I |  |
INTRODUCTION.
The incidents of the following Poem are not altogether fictitious.— The story is founded upon extraordinary events, which occurred in this country a number of years since. In the Agnes of the Poem, I have drawn such a character as the lady concerned was at the time represented to be; and in the Penitent himself, have attempted to delineate such a being, as I conceived the principal actor in those events might have been. The other characters are imaginary.
The only excuse I have to offer for the variety of versification and measure made use of in the course of the Poem, is, that it “suited my humor” when writing. Regularity would, probably, have better accorded with the rules of correct taste: but in violating these, I pleased my fancy, and avoided being monotonous.
| Erato, number I | |